Automatic control means



July I L. MAXSON AUTOMATIC CONTRO L MEANS Filed Dec. 30, 1941 4Sheets-Sheet 3 July 31, 1945. A so I 2,380,457

AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS Fi led Dec. 50, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PatentedJuly 3l, 1945 AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS Louis A. Maxson, Claremont, N. H.,assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of MassachusettsApplication December 30, 1941, Serial No. 424,971

14' Claims.

This invention relates to automatic controlling means for automaticallyfed work performing devices and especially, though not exclusively, to

automatically controlled drilling apparatus, and still moreparticularly, from one aspect, to improved feed control means fordrilling apparatus of the high speed rotary type. c

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved automatic feedcontrolling means. It is another object to provide an improvedautomatically controlled power-fed work performing device. Anotherobject of this invention is to provide improved feed control means for adrilling apparatus of the rotary type. Still another object is toprovide improved means responsive to the torque on a drill or other toolrotating shaft for controlling the supply of pressure fluid to pressurefluid operated feeding means for the apparatus of which such shaft is apart. Still a further object-is to provide improved means for yieldablyconnecting the drive shaft of a rotary type drill or other tool drivingmotor to a drill or other tool, and operative at predetermined loads onthe drill or other tool shaft for cutting oil the supply'of pressurefluid to pressure responsive feeding means. Another object is to provideimproved means connected between the power shaft of a rotary type drillor other tool operating motor and a drill shaft for controlling atorque-controlled valve in a pressure fluid supply line of a ressureoperated feeding device. Still a further object is to provide animproved hydraulically operated, torque responsive, feed controlmechanism. Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear inthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustrationone form which the invention may assume in practice.

' In these drawings:

Fig.1 is a side elevational view of a drilling apparatus in which anillustrative form of the improved feed control means is incorporated.

Figs. 2 and 3, when taken together, constitute an enlarged view incentral, longitudinal, vertical section through the drilling apparatusshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken in the plane of Fig. 2 andshowing details of construction.

Fig-5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the plane of the line5-5 of Fig. 2.

i 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the plane of the line8-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 'I is a detail sectional view taken on the planes of the line '|lof Fig. 9.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the planeof'the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken on the line0-9 of F18. 2.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the linelO-ll of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view showing portions'of the forward feedpassages.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention, which shows the latterincorporated in a drill operating mechanism, a drilling mechanism,generally designated l, of the high speed, rotary type adapted for usewith core or plug-type bits, generally comprises drill bit rotationmeans I,

drill bit feeding means 3, a control head 4 con- I taining improved feedcontrol means, generally designated I. and drill guiding and supp tinmeans, generally designated 8. This drill mechanism, except for theoperative connections between the drilling motorand the drillingimplement and the feed control means, is similar to that shown anddescribedin a copending application of Win W. Paget, Serial No. 268,792,now matured into Patent No. 2,288,541, which is also owned by theassignee of this present application.

The drill supporting and guiding means 6 comprises a trunnion member Ihaving a swivel plate 8 adapted to be clamped in the saddle mounting ofa mine column or any other suitable support. Extending longitudinallythrough the trunnion member is a bore which receives a cylindrical tube'8 having its ends fixed .asu-pport member II and providing a pivotalmounting for the support member so that the latter may be swunglaterally to move thcdrill into a position at one side of the drillhole. Carried by'the support member II is a plunger ii adapted to bereceived within an opening I 2 in the trunnion member for locking thesupport member in its upright drilling position. Extendinglongitudinally through the support member is a bore which slidinglyreceives and guides a feed cylinder II of the feeding means I.

The feed cylinder lt'contains a reciprocable feed piston it having atubular piston rod is extending forwardly through the cylinder andhaving fixed to its forward end a plate It, as

shown in Fig. 2. The feed cylinder I! has front and rear heads i1 andit, the former carrying a packing I! sealingly engaging the exteriorperiphery of the piston rod and the latter head being detachablysecured, as by screws, to the rear end of the feed cylinder. The frontand rear cylinder heads I1 and I! have depending bosses provided withbores in which is rotatably fixed against axial displacement withrespect to the feed cylinder by a split ring 23 seated in external andinternal grooves on the tube-20 and a detachable end plate 24respectively, the latter secured to the front head ll. of the feedcylinder II. The tube 20 projects rearwardly through the rear head bossand has secured thereto a handle 25 by means of which the tube may bemanually rotated to feed the cylinder l3 rela tive to the supportmember".

Secured in any suitable manner to the plate I! is a cylindrically shapedhousing 2!, the housing and the plate cooperating to form the controlhead 4 and providing a chamber 29 within which the improved torquetransmitting and control means are located. Formed in the wall of thehousing 28.18 a bore containing a tube 3| which shown. The tube ii isfixed within the basin the housing and has a sliding flt with the wallsof the tube to hold the feed cylinder against:

electric motor having a cylindrical motor cas- 7 ing 3 8'provided withfront and rear heads 31 and 38, the motor parts being held in assembledrelation and secured to the housing 28 by tie bolts 3!. The motor has ausual field .40 and an armature rotor 4|, the latter being secured to atubular shaft 42 jou'rnaled in bearings a suitably supported by thefront and rear motor heads The shaft 42 extends through the rear motorhead into the chamber "as shown in Fig. 2. Extending, through thetubular shaft 42 is a shaft 4| carrying a chuck 46 at'its forward endfor receiving a drill rod and having its rear end extending into thechamber 29 where it is operatively connected, through means more fullyto be described. to the tubular shaft 42. As-will be clear'from thelater description, the shaft 45 is rotatable through a small anglerelative to the shaft 42, and it is held in any suitable way againstlongitudinal movement relative to shaft 42, as by a thrust bearing 41..Electrical energy may be conducted to the windings of the-motor fromany convenient source through a conventional conductor plug mounted onthe motor casing. as shown in Fig. 1.

The means for supplying fluid, preferably liquid under pressure, to thefluid actuated feeding means I comprises a liquid supply chamber llformed in the housing 2|, and liquid may be conducted to this chamberthrough a strainer 8| from a supply conduit l2. Also formed in thehousing 28 is a longitudinal bore 53 having arranged therein a portedvalve bushing 54 in which a control valve BI is reciprocably mounted.This-valve is of the sliding spool type and is operated by a valveadjusting screw it engaging a stationary non-rotatable nut 51 formedwithin the guide tube 3|. The screw N is rigidly secured to an operatingrod 58 which has a sliding but non-rotatable telescopic engagement withan operating rod 80. The rod 89 extends rearwardly within the tubularfeed screw, and has secured to its rear end a control handle I. It willbe seen that by rotating the handle II, the control valve is may bemoved longitudinally within the valve bushing bore through the rotatablescrew ll engaging the non-rotatable nut II, and by the provision of thetelescopically arranged rods the valve may be operated irrespective ofthe position of the control head relative to the trunnion support.Communicating with the forward end of the bore of the valve bushing isan exhaust chamber '2 connected to an exhaust port 82, and communicatingwith the bore of the bushing at its rear end is a chamber '4 connectedto the chamber 62 through grooves 88 and 8' extending along the outersurface of the valve bushing. The supply chamber I0 is connected througha port slot CI in the valve bushing to the interior of the latter, andformed in the valve bushing at opposite sides of the port I. are ports60 and II communicating, respectively, with forward and reverse feedpassages to be described. The port It opens into a groove llcommunicating with a passage 14. as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and thepassage "is connected. mt a torque-controlled valve means,generally'designated It, to a passage ll (Fig. 11) which into a liquidcon-. ducting tube 11 extending longitudinally through the tubularpiston rod II and o i through the feed piston l4 into the bore of thefeed cylinder II at the rear of the piston. The port ll opens into apassage It in the control head 4, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. and thepassage ll communicates with the interior of the tubular piston rod iiat its forward end. Extending radially through the-tubular piston rodadiacentthe pistonl4, are ports II for conducting liquid from theinterior'of the piston rod to the bore of the feed cylinder I! at theforward side of the feed piston. When the control valve 55 is moved toits rearward position, as shown in Fig. 4, liquid isven'ted from theforward feed passages through the port 88 to the chamber 62 and theexhaust port 63. At the same time, the liquid supply chamber 50 isconnected through the port It and a groove '2 on the control valve tothe passage so that liquid is supplied under pressure to the feedcylinder at the forward side of the feed piston for moving the lattertoward the rear end of the feed cylinder. When the valve II is movedto'its extreme forward position, the reverse feed passages are ventedthrough the port I. to the chamber 84 which is connected to exhaustthrough the grooves I, It, the chamber 82 and the port 63. The supplychamber 50 is connected at this time through the port II to ports 83opening into a chamber .4 in the control valve, and the chamber I4 isconnected through ports 8! to the port I! communicating with the forwardfeed passages which conduct liquid, under control of thetorque-controlled valve II, to the feed cylinder at the rear side of thefeed piston for eflecting movement of the latter in a forward direction.

The torque-controlled valve Ii comprises, as shown in Fig. 9, a valvesleeve is arranged within a transverse bore 4! in the housing 20 of thecontrol head 4. Extending longitudinally through the valve sleeve is avalve member ll having a beveled shoulder ll adapted to cooperate with abeveled valve seat 92 on the sleeve. Formed in the valve sleeve atopposite sides of the valve seat are bores s: and .4, the bore l3communicating through a port I! with the passage 14, and the bore 94communicating through a port it with the passage II. when the valvemember I.

the quadrantal portions I04.

is moved to its 'unseated position, as in Fig. 9, the forward feedpassages I4 and I6 are connected in communication with each otherthrough the port 35, the bores 03 and 04, and the port 36. With thevalve member in its seated position, communication between the passagesI4 and I6 is cut oil, and forward feed is immediately stopped sincethere is no expansion of the liquid valve member toward its unseatedposition.

Improved means, generally designated 5, is provided for transmitting thetorque from the rotor shaft 42 to the shaft 45 and for moving the valvemember 90 to its seated position when the torque transmitted from therotor shaft 42 to the shaft 45 exceeds a predetermined amount. Thismeans comprises, as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, a member I03 suitablysplined or keyed to the rear end of the tubular shaft 42 and hereinhaving diametrically opposite quadrantal portions I04 projectingoutwardly at opposite sides of the shaft. Keyed to the rear end of theshaft 45 is a member I05 having diametrically opposite quadrantalportions I06 extending outwardly in opposite directions from the shaftand fitting freely between The portions I04 and I06 are so proportionedas to provide clearances-I'I between them whereby a slight relativerotation between th shafts 42 and 45 is permitted. Force transmittingmeans actuated by the relative movements between the portions I04 andI06 upon the transmission of driving forces from one to the other mayassume various forms and herein I have shown for purposes ofillustration a hydraulic system. Formed in certain of the adjacent facesof the quadrantal portions I04 and I06, as shown in Fig. 6, are recessesI08 and I00 opening into each other other and cooperating to formchambers receiving hollow yieldable elements or bellows IIO whoseinteriors communicate with passages III formed in the quadrantalportions I06. The passages III are connected, as shown in Fig. 5,through radial passages I'I3 in the shaft 45 to a passage I I4 extendingaxially within the shaft. Arranged in a recess H in the rear end of theshaft 45, is a yieldable element or bellows II6 connected incommunication with the passage II4. It will be understood that theentire driving torque may be transmitted through the fluid system formedby the interconnected bellows, but it may be desirable to providesuitable means, such as springs S received in pockets formed in the samefaces of the members I 04 and I06 that receive the bellows IIO, toabsorb a part of the driving torque,

- both arrangements being within the contemplation of my invention. Thesprings may be of such strength and length as normally-to be receivedfull length (fully extended) within the pockets in the absence ofdriving torque.

Mechanism actuated by the bellows II6 for controlling the feed may nowbe described. Formed on the plate I6 and projecting forwardly into thehousing 28, as shown in Figs. 2 and 10, are spaced guide members I"providing longitudinally extending guide surfaces II6 for a slid-- ingcam element H9. The guide members Ill and the guide surfaces II3 are soarranged as to support the cam element H9 in axial alinement with theshaft 45 for longitudinal sliding movement relative to the latter.Extending verment H3, is a lever I23 projecting downwardly through theopening I20 in the cam element and having a forked lower end fittingwithin a groove" 7 I23 in the sleeve 30 threaded on the valve member 00.It will be noted that the pivotal connec- .tion for the lever I23 issuch as to provide for a swinging of the lever transversely of thehousing, and the lever is continuously held against the cam'surface I2Iby the action of the spring I 00 urging the valve member 30 towarditsunseated position. The parts of the control means are so relatedthat, for normal loads on the drill motor, the valve member is held inits open position, and the camelement is moved forwardly by the actionof the lever I23 on its cam surface I2I, to engage the rear end of thebellows I I6 through a friction reducing element, such as a ball I24.The interior of the bellows H0 and H6, and the passages I I I, H3 and II4 provide a closed system which is filled with a fluid, preferably aliquid whereby operating pressures are transmitted to one part of thesystem when another part of the system reacts to pressures to becontrolled.

When the load on the bit rotating means exceeds a predeterminedamount, 1. e. if the resistance to drill bit rotation becomes excessive,the shaft 45 is caused to lag behind-the shaft 42 and the quadrantalportions I 04 and I06 are moved relative to each other in a direction tocompress the bellows H0. The gaseous fluid or liquid contained withinthe bellows H0 is forced into the passages III, H3, H4, and the bellowsH6, increasing the pressure therein and causing the bellows II6 toexpand, moving ahead of it the cam element II9. As the cam element isforced rearwardly, the cam surface I2I acts against the lever I23forcing the latter in a direction to move the valve member towards itsseated position against the tension of the spring I00 and reduce orcompletely cut oil the supply of liquid to the feed cylinder.

In order to prevent an overheating of the bit during drilling, there areprovided means .for delivering a cooling liquid to the drill hole. Thismeans comprises a passage I25 opening into the liquid supply chamber, asshown in Fig. 5, and conducting liquid past a manually operated valveI26 to a passage I2'I extending longitudinally through the motor casing.The passage I2! is connected, as shown in Fig. 2, through a radialpassage I28, formed in a collar I29 surrounding the shaft 45, to agroove I30 communicating with radial passages I3I and an axial passageI32 formed in the shaft 45. The passage I32 extends through the forwardend of the shaft 45 and delivers the cooling liquid to a passageextending longitudinally through the drill shaft in a usual manner.Surrounding the shaft 45 at opposite sides of the groove I 30, arepacking leathers I35 held firmly in engagement with the periphery of theshaft to prevent the escape of cooling liquid along the shaft to thebearings 43, and to the interior of a fan housing I36 containing a fanI31 which is driven by the shaft 45 for forcing cooling air through themotor casing.

Returning to the specific improvements disclosed in this application, itwill be observed that with the use of springs such as those shown at S alarge part of the torque may be transmitted through the springs and byproviding springs of appropriate characteristics the pressure within theclosed fluid system necessary to effect the desired controls will notneed to be so high as if the spring I had to be made strong enoughtowi-thstand in the necessary manner the pressure which would build upin the bellows if the full driving force had to be transmittedthroughthe latter. It will be observed, however, that at least in part thefluid system which controls the feed serves to transmit the drivingtorque, in the speciflc structure shown in the drawings, and withappropriately proportioned and adequately strong bellows H0, H6 andspringlllil the entire driving load my be carried through the hydraulicsystem, and this is within the contemplation of my invention.

As a result of this invention it will be noted that there is provided animproved drilling apparatus of the rotary type. It will be noted thatthere is also provided improved means for controlling the feeding of thedrill, the control means being operative at a predetermined torque onthe drill bit for cutting oif the supply of operating fluid to fluidactuated feeding means for the drill. And there is provided an improveddriving and feed controlling means adapted to the feeding and driving ofa very wide variety of mechanisms.

ratus will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form whichthe invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that thisform of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that theinvention may be modified and embodied in various other forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and. desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a drilling apparatus, in combination, a motor for rotating a drillbit, driving connections between said motor and the drill bit includinga driven shaft and a fluid containing system yield-' ingly connectingsaid motor to said shaft, power operated feeding means for the drillbit, and

means for controlling said feeding means in accordance with the load onsaid motor, said controlling means including means operatively connectedto said fluid containing system.

2. In a drilling apparatus, in combination, a

taining system yieldingly connecting said power shaft to said drivenshaft, fluid actuated feeding means for the drill bit, and means forcontrolling the supply of fluid to said feeding means in accordance withthe resistance to drill bit rotation, said controlling means includingmeans actuated by said fluid containing system on relative rotationbetween said shafts.

3. In a drilling apparatus, in combination, a motor for rotating a drillbit, said motor having a power shaft, driving connections between saidpower shaft and the drill bit including a driven shaft, and meansincluding a closed fluid containing system yieldingiy connecting saidpower shaft to said driven shaft, fluid actuated feeding means for thedrill bit, and means for controlling the supply of fluid to said feedingmeans in accordance with the load changes on said motor, saidcontrolling means comprising a torque controlled valve, and meanscontrolled by said fluid containing system on relative rotation betweenOther advantages of the improved drilling appa- Ill said power shaft andsaid driven shaft for actuating said valve.

4. In a drilling apparatus, in combination, a motor for rotating a drillbit, said motor havin a power shaft,driving connections between saidpower shaft and the drill bit including a driven shaft, members flxed tosaid shafts and having projecting portions interfltting freely with eachother, yielding chamber providing elements arranged between saidprojecting portions, a yielding chamber providing element arranged at anend of one of said shafts, passage means connecting said chamberproviding elements, said chamber providing elements and said passagemeans forming a closed system for containing a fluid which acts toexpand one of said elements when another is compressed, fluid actuatedfeeding means for the drill bit, and means responsive to the action ofone of said yielding chamber providing elements for controlling thesupply of fluid to said feeding means.

5. In a drilling apparatus, in combination, a motor for rotating a drillbit, said motor having a power shaft, driving connections between saidpower shaft and the drill bit including a driven shaft, members fixed tosaid shafts and having projecting portions interfltting freely with eachother, yielding chamber providing elements arranged between saidprojecting portions, a yielding chamber providing element arranged at anend of one of said shafts, passage means connecting said chamberproviding elements, said chamber providing elements and said passagemeans forming a closed system for containing a fluid which acts toexpand one of said elements when another is compressed, fluid actuatedfeeding means for the drill bit, valve means for controlling the supplyof fluid to said feeding means, and means actuated by one of saidyielding chamber providing elements for controlling said valve means.

6. In a drilling apparatus, in combination, a motor for rotating a drillbit, said motor having a power shaft, driving connections between saidpower shaft and the drill bit including a driven shaft, members flxed'to said shafts and having projecting portions interfltting freely witheach other, yielding chamber providing elements arranged between saidprojecting portions, a yielding chamber providing element arranged at anend of one of said shafts, passage means connecting said chamberproviding elements, said chamber providing elements and said passagemeans forming a closed system for containing a fluid which acts toexpand one of said elements when another is compressed, fluid actuatedfeeding means for the drill bit, valve means for controlling the supplyof fluid to said feeding means,

and means actuated by one of said yielding chamber providing elementswhen others of said elements are compressed due to relative rotation ofsaid shafts for effecting closure of said valve means.

7. In a drilling apparatus, in combination, a motor for rotating a drillbit, said motor having a tubular power shaft, driving connectionsbetween said power shaft and the drill bit including a driven shaftextending through said tubular power shaft, a member fixed to said powershaft and having radially projecting portions, a member fixed to saiddriven shaft and having radially projecting portions extending betweenthe projecting portions on said member flxed to said power shaft,yielding chamber providing elements arranged between said projectingportions, a

yielding chamber providing element arranged at one end of said drivenshaft, passage means connecting said chamber providing elements, saidchamber providing elements and said passage means forming a closedsystem for containing a fluid through which energy may be transmitted,fluid actuated feeding means for the drill bit, and means actuated byone of said chamber providing elements when others are compressed onrelative rotation of said shafts for controlling the supply of fluid tosaid feeding means.

8. In a drilling apparatus, in combination, a motor. for rotating adrill bit, said motor having a tubular power shaft, driving connectionsbetween said power shaft and the drill bit including a driven shaftextending through said tubular power shaft, a member fixed to said powershaft and having radially projecting portions, a member fixed to saiddriven shaft and having radially projecting portions extending betweenthe projecting portions on said member fixed to said power shaft,yielding chamber providing elements arranged between said projectingportions, a yielding chamber providing element arranged at one end ofsaid driven shaft, passage means connecting said chamber providingelements, said chamber providing elements and said passage means forminga closed system for containing a chamber providing element at the end ofsaid driven shaft when fluid is forced thereto by compression of saidchamber providing elements between said projections for closing said.valve means.

9. In combination, an implement, a shaft connected in driving relationwith said implement, a motor, means including a fluid containing systemconnecting said motor to said shaft, said fluid containing system soconstructed and so related to said motor and said shaft that said fluidis placed under pressure when said motor exerts a torque on said shaft,power operated means for feeding said implement, and means responsive tothe pressure changes in said fluid for controlling the delivery of powerto said feeding means.

10. In combination, in a controlling apparatus, an expansible chamberforming means, another expansible chamber forming means, meansconnecting said expansible chamber forming means together to form aclosed, self-contained fluid system, one of said expansible chamberforming means varying in volume in accordance with the Pressures actingthereon and causing fluid to flow relative to the other expansiblechamber forming means for efiecting changes in the volume of the latter,means for exerting on one of said expansible chamber forming means apressure varying with a load to be controlled, and means actuated bychanges in volume of the other of said expansible chamber forming meansfor effecting a control of such load.

11. In combination, a motor for rotating an implement, power operatedmeans for feeding said motor, and means for connecting said motor indriving relation with the implement to be rotated thereby and forcontrolling the feeding force exerted by said feeding means including aclosed liquid system having movable walls, one of said walls subjectedto a pressure varying with the resistance to implement rotation andanother of said walls exerting a corresponding pressure to control thedelivery of power to said feeding means.

12. In combination, an implement, a motor for driving said implement,said driwng motor having a power shaft, a shaft to be driven by saidpower shaft and connected to said implement, at least one radial arm oneach of said shafts, yieldable means connected between said radial armsfor transmitting power from said power shaft to said driven shaft, poweroperated means for feeding said implement, and means including a systemactuated by relative angular movement between said arms for controllingthe delivery of power to said feeding means.

13. In combination, power operated means for rotating 9. tool, poweroperated means for feedin the tool rotated by said first mentioned meanslongitudinally of its axis, means including a yieldable powertransmitting means for yieldingly connecting one of said power operatedmeans to the tool, and means responsive to the yielding of saidyieldable connecting means and having pressure fluid operatedcontrolling means for controlling the delivery of power to the other ofsaid power operated means.

14. In combination, power operated means for rotating a tool, poweroperated means for feeding the tool rotated by said first mentionedmeans longitudinally of its axis, means including, a closed fluidcontaining system for yieldingly connecting one of said power operatedmeans to the tool, said fluid containing system so constructed and sorelated to the one of said power operated means/it connects to the toolthat the fluid therein is placed under pressure varying with the powerdelivered, and means responsive to the pressures of the fluid in saidsystem for controlling the delivery of power to the other of said'poweroperated means.

LOUIS A. MAXSON.

